Understanding the Pythagoras Theorem
Learning the fundamental relationship between the sides of a right triangle.
Core concept
For a right triangle with legs of length 3 and 4, the hypotenuse is calculated as √(3²+4²) = √(9+16) = √25 = 5 — this specific 3-4-5 combination is called a 'Pythagorean triple' since all three values are whole numbers. This theorem, attributed to the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras (though known earlier in other cultures, including ancient India's Baudhayana), remains one of the most useful and widely applied results in all of mathematics.
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• Pythagoras theorem: a² + b² = c², where c is the hypotenuse of a right triangle.
• Example: legs 3 and 4 give hypotenuse √(9+16)=√25=5 (the 3-4-5 Pythagorean triple).
• The theorem applies only to right-angled triangles.
• Known in ancient India (Baudhayana) as well as by the Greek mathematician Pythagoras.